Traction control system

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A traction control system (TCS), also known as Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), is

typically (but not necessarily) an electro-hydraulic system on production vehicles
designed to prevent loss of traction of the driven road wheels, and therefore maintain the
control of the vehicle when excessive throttle is applied by the driver and the condition of
the road surface (due to varying factors) is unable to cope with the torque applied.
Although similar to electronic stability control (ESC) systems, traction control systems
do not have the same goal.

The intervention can consist of one or more of the following:

• Retard or suppress the spark to one or more cylinders

• Reduce fuel supply to one or more cylinders
• Brake one or more wheels
• Close the throttle, if the vehicle is fitted with drive by wire throttle
• In turbo-charged vehicles, the boost control solenoid can be actuated to reduce
boost and therefore engine power.

Typically, the traction control system shares the electro-hydraulic brake actuator (but
does not use the conventional master cylinder and servo), and the wheel speed sensors
with the anti-lock braking system.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 History
• 2 Basic Idea
• 3 Use of traction control
o 3.1 Controversy in motorsports
• 4 Traction control in cornering
• 5 References
• 6 See also

• 7 External links

[edit] History
The predecessor of modern electronic traction control systems can be found in high-
torque, high-power rear-wheel drive cars as a limited slip differential.[citation needed] Limited
slip differential is a purely mechanical system that transfers a relatively small amount of
power to the non-slipping wheel, it still allows some wheel spin to occur.

In 1971 the Buick division of GM introduced MaxTrac, which used an early computer
system to detect rear wheel spin and modulate engine power to those wheels to provide
the most traction. A Buick-exclusive at the time, it was an option on all full-size models,
including the Riviera, Estate Wagon, Electra 225, Centurion, and popular LeSabre family
sedan. Cadillac also introduced the ill fated Traction Monitoring System (TMS) in 1979
on the redesigned Eldorado. It was criticized for its slow reaction time and extremely
high failure rate.

[edit] Basic Idea

The basic idea behind the need of a traction control system is the difference between the
slips of different wheels or an apparent loss of road grip that may result in loss of steering
control over the vehicle. Difference in slip may occur due to turning of a vehicle or
differently varying road conditions for different wheels. At high speeds, when a car tends
to turn, its outer and inner wheels are subjected to different speed of rotation, that is
conventionally controlled by using a differential. A further enhancement of the
differential is to employ an active differential that can vary the amount of power being
delivered to outer and inner wheels according to the need (for example, if, while turning
right, outward slip (equivalently saying, 'yaw') is sensed, active differential may deliver
more power to the outer wheel, so as to minimize the yaw (that is basically the degree to
which the front and rear wheels of a car are out of line.) Active-differential, in turn, is
controlled by an assembly of electromechanical sensors collaborating with a traction
control unit.

[edit] Use of traction control

• In road cars: Traction control has traditionally been a safety feature in high-
performance cars, which would otherwise need very sensitive throttle input to
keep them from spinning the driven wheels when accelerating, especially in wet,
icy or snowy conditions. In recent years, traction control systems have become
widely available in non-performance cars, minivans, and light trucks.
• In race cars: Traction control is used as a performance enhancement, allowing
maximum traction under acceleration without wheel spin. When accelerating out
of turn, it keeps the tires at the optimum slip ratio.
• In motorcycles: Traction control for a production motorcycle was first available
with the Honda ST1100 in 1992.[1][2] By 2009, traction control was an option for
several models offered by BMW and Ducati, and the model year 2010 Kawasaki
Concours 14 (1400GTR).
• In off road vehicles: Traction control is used instead or in addition to the
mechanical limited slip or locking differential. It is often implemented with an
 electronic limited slip differential, as well as other computerized controls of the
engine and transmission. The spinning wheel is slowed down with short
applications of brakes, diverting more torque to the non-spinning wheel. This
form of traction control has an advantage over a locking differential, as steering
and control of a vehicle is easier, so the system can be continuously enabled. It
also creates less stress on the drivetrain, which is particularly important to the
vehicles with an independent suspension that is generally weaker compared to
solid axles.[citation needed] On the other hand, only half of the available torque will be
applied to a wheel with traction, compared to a locked differential, and handling
is less predictable.[citation needed]

[edit] Controversy in motorsports

It is widely thought that TC removes some skill and control from the driver. As such it is
unpopular with many motor-sport fans. Some motor-sports series have given up trying to
outlaw TC.[citation needed] With current state of technology, it is possible to implement TC as a
part of software in ECU, and as such it is very hard to detect by scrutineers.[citation needed]
Very effective yet small units are also available that allow the driver to remove the
traction control system after an event if desired.[3] In Formula One, an effort to ban TC
has led to the change of rules for 2008: every car must have a standard (but custom
mappable) ECU, issued by FIA, which is relatively basic and does not have TC
capabilities. NASCAR suspended a Whelen Modified Tour driver, crew chief, and car
owner for one race and disqualified the team after crossing the finish line first in a
September 20, 2008 race at Martinsville Speedway after finding questionable wiring in
the ignition system, which can often be used to implement traction control.

[edit] Traction control in cornering

Traction control is not just used for moving a vehicle from stationary without slippage.
During hard maneuvers in a front-wheel drive car, there is a point where the wheels
cannot both steer and drive the car at the same time without losing traction. With traction
control, it is less likely for this loss of control to occur. There is a limit though, when the
tires lose grip. If the car does not corner as sharply as indicated by the front wheels,
understeer occurs. In rear wheel drive cars, traction control can prevent oversteer.

Automobile manufacturers state in vehicle manuals that traction control systems should
not encourage dangerous driving or encourage driving in conditions beyond the drivers'
control.